2025 Summer Transfer Thread. 😂

[Paul Mani]

8 minutes ago, K-Hod said:

Nicely put.

But, I still think a simpler explanation is that Ismael was told that he needed to get rid of players we could get a fee for and replace them with players that cost and earn less.

I appreciate that’s how you see it. But I genuinely don’t think that’s how they’ve sold this to him.

I think, they genuinely believe that they can use / manipulate these esc slots to find diamonds in the rough, for less money and that they can do well in the Championship, sell them for multiple and effectively fund the club, thus reducing the financial burden on their bosses.

They think they’re clever. To be fair there’s been a few reports suggesting they are using these Esc slots better than most. Only time will tell…

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

Gestede's influence is a bit of an enigma.  His communication hasn't been great and I believe he's not particularly well liked around Ewood.  

However, he does seem to target some potentially interesting signings.  Ultimately, he'll get judged on those by the fan base. 

[Torgeir]

5 minutes ago, alexanders said:

Where is the video of the meet up with Baradji? Need to see hit.

I have learned from past mistakes and will never get a player on my shirt anymore - was so close to having Travis this summer. Glad I didn't! 

But Miro without kicking the ball would be the one. 

 

[alexanders]

We have what looks like a very competitive squad now (who I think willv play this season): 

GK: Toth, MIchalski - Maybe weak here

RB: Alebiosu, Miller, Montgomery

CB: Hyam, Mclouglin, Carter, Wharton

LB: Ribeiro, De Neve, Pickering

CDM/CM: Tronny, Tavares, Baradji, Montgomery, Forshaw

AM: Cantwell, Henriksson, Tyjon

Wingers ish: Hedges, Kargbo, Miro

ST: Gueye, Ohashi

 

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

Has Travis to Derby actually been confirmed? It seems to be dragging on?

[KentExile]

 

2 minutes ago, Wing Wizard Windy Miller said:

Has Travis to Derby actually been confirmed? It seems to be dragging on?

not yet, expected to be today

There were rumours about Wrexham offering him more, but apparently that is not the case

Edited 3 hours ago by KentExile

[alexanders]

In the same manner that I want Newcastle to force Isak to stay if Liverpool don't pay what Newcastle wants and in any case let him rot on the bench, I want the same from Rovers when it comes to Trav.

Putting himself in such a position being the team captain is not okey. 

[Emerald Isle Rover]

Today by all accounts media etc has been done and they had a match last night 

[Torgeir]

3 minutes ago, alexanders said:

In the same manner that I want Newcastle to force Isak to stay if Liverpool don't pay what Newcastle wants and in any case let him rot on the bench, I want the same from Rovers when it comes to Trav.

Putting himself in such a position being the team captain is not okey. 

Two totally different scenarios. 

I think Trav would've been happy enough to stay and play out his deal, but Rovers gave him an ultimatum. I thank him for his services, not his biggest fan, but he's had some really good spells for us and been a good leader in a turbulent time at the club. Wish him all the best, as long as his team ends up below us in the table.

[roversfan99]

4 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

The two I think would have thrived under VI are Brittain and Travis. From a technical and physical standpoint, they look aligned and VI has shown most displeasure in losing them. That said, I think Tavares can / will be a better player than Travis and has a much higher ceiling in this regime.

The point I’m making about ‘them’ leaving refers to a player choice rather the club.

Picture this…please allow for some colour and humour (It’s my style). Rovers squad sat round the camp fire under the leadership of Big Johnny Eustace and his merry men! Lots of backslapping and a strong and clear understanding that, if you “do it my way, you’ll get that contract you always wanted.” This starts to break down as the club won’t give those juicy contracts out and John packs up and leaves the pack, now feeling rudderless and vulnerable…

In steps Valerian Ismael, who seems nice, but he’s different. Firstly he’s physically chiselled from what looks like granite (No more cosy nights round the fire with pot bellied John). But there’s more….Big Val is cut from a different cloth. He’s singing from a new hymn sheet, and the players he’s bringing in are like cyborgs in comparison to what’s gone before them. Suddenly that nucleus, that strength of the group held together by John and his lieutenants Travis, Brittain, Buckley, JrC etc is smashed and one by one, they all look for a way out.

Eustace, like Mowbray relies on that English style model of camaraderie and an understanding that “you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours…” Once he was gone then that would never last under Suhail and Rudy. It’s not about whether Travis and Brittain and Batth are good players, they are VERY good championship players. But the writing was on the wall as soon as Eustace left and Val came in. We couldn’t see it because, we’re not on the inside but the profile of the players signed are proof enough that club has moved on from the old guard.

The club knew this was going to happen too, and Val has intimated on more than one occasion that he was hoping for a slower transition into the model but they’ve been forced to rip the plaster off and just go for it.

This is why I don’t think the direct comparisons work. If this were still Johns gig, then we could be like, “How will Tavares, do what Trav did before him?” But it’s not….Val wants a different profile of player. Watching Tavares, and reading the raving about Baradji then I’m not even sure Sonny or Trav really stood a chance!? Trav was the most likely fit but they want high octane, ball carrying, progressive passing ‘8’s’…

This is what the manager is talking about in terms of us being in full transition mode. I just don’t see the point in the comparisons anymore. Is Travis better than Tavares? Well in John Eustaces  Rovers, yes. But in Valerian Ismaels Rovers, it’s much closer. Kargbo, Alebiosu, Henriksson, Morishita, Miller etc represent the T2000’s in this model. The T1000’s need to move on…and that’s what’s happening!

What about Dolan? I know you arent a fan and I think have been massively unfair on him. But in terms of style, surely you agree that his high energy profile suits Ismael down to the ground? And surely you acknowledge that his form improved when Ismael came in.

Totally get why signing these exotic players are exciting and I appreciate that much of your post is satirical. But obviously it goes without saying that it is not a case that many of these players are being "left behind" with Ismael wanting them gone because the boys club vibe is no more and theyve not been able to keep up. Theyve left because we cant get them to stay on the peanuts that are offered. They leave gigantic holes.

Tronstad and Travis very much did stand a chance from a footballing sense, they arent the T1000S that need to move on, its a hell of an assumption that Tavares and Baradji will just wave them on as they come in as superior models to take us forward, again jokes appreciated. One comes from being in and out in a mid table Portugese league team and one was relegated in Switzerland, there is reason for optimism with both but I suspect if we had all 4, then the latter 2 would be the ones providing competition and learning from the T2000s, who actually contrary to the above are very much the real deal.

[roversfan99]

Jackson's article today suggests that a midfielder is being chased but that a striker is far from a guarantee. Surely those priorities should be swapped.

[alexanders]

What's the difference between Bucko and Trav? 

Bucko leaves in style with a goodbye video 

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

7 minutes ago, alexanders said:

What's the difference between Bucko and Trav? 

Bucko leaves in style with a goodbye video 

Travis hasn't actually gone yet is the current difference. 

[Ricky]

29 minutes ago, Paul Mani said:

I appreciate that’s how you see it. But I genuinely don’t think that’s how they’ve sold this to him.

I think, they genuinely believe that they can use / manipulate these esc slots to find diamonds in the rough, for less money and that they can do well in the Championship, sell them for multiple and effectively fund the club, thus reducing the financial burden on their bosses.

They think they’re clever. To be fair there’s been a few reports suggesting they are using these Esc slots better than most. Only time will tell…

I’m not sure how using a slot for a kid who never got anywhere near the first team is evidence of them ‘using the esc slots better than most’. I’d call it a complete shambles but hey ho. 

[KentExile]

7 minutes ago, alexanders said:

What's the difference between Bucko and Trav? 

Bucko leaves in style with a goodbye video 

Travis hasn't left yet

Any video etc is only ever released after it is officially announced

[AspRover]

I doubt the goodbye video is a contractual obligation, Travis may simply not want to do one. 

We shall see. 

[KentExile]

Just now, AspRover said:

I doubt the goodbye video is a contractual obligation, Travis may simply not want to do one. 

We shall see. 

He may well not do an official one with the club, especially if he is suspended and therefore not been able to be on the premises, but I would be surprised if he doesn't do a personal one of some sort

[Hasta]

9 hours ago, bluebruce said:

Eh? Birmingham were one of the favourites to win the league, let alone get promoted, at 2-1 at one point. They're currently second favourites to win the league and second favourites to get promoted. Not sure where you got the notion they were 7-1 for promotion. West Brom currently 6th favourites for promotion (oddschecker).

Yeah apologies. For some reason when I checked the pre-season odds I looked at Wrexham and not Birmingham. (Newly promoted, hype, yanks etc...). Both West Brom and Wrexham were 7/1 pre-season.

The next question is why the hell are Birmingham second favourites? I didnt even consider them pre-season and saw nothing at Ewood to change my mind.

[ROVER_N_OUT1978]

Baradji in full training kit. Wish the LT/club would give us an update either way.

Edited 2 hours ago by ROVER_N_OUT1978

[Emerald Isle Rover]

9 minutes ago, Hasta said:

Yeah apologies. For some reason when I checked the pre-season odds I looked at Wrexham and not Birmingham. (Newly promoted, hype, yanks etc...). Both West Brom and Wrexham were 7/1 pre-season.

The next question is why the hell are Birmingham second favourites? I didnt even consider them pre-season and saw nothing at Ewood to change my mind.

Their spending power and signings if they are around top 6/8 come Jan yiu know they can/will go all out 

[B16Rover]

6 minutes ago, ROVER_N_OUT1978 said:

Baradji in full training kit. Wish the LT/club would give us an update either way.

In true football manager tradition he will get injured either in his first training session or game, and be out for 6 months 

[B16Rover]

Putting my happy clapper hat on, imagining I'm an 18-25 year old rovers fan.  Is Travis a legend?  

[JHRover]

22 minutes ago, alexanders said:

What's the difference between Bucko and Trav? 

Bucko leaves in style with a goodbye video 

The difference is the club haven't had to resort to dirty underhand tactics to get rid of Bucko because he wasn't a cornerstone of the team/captain and probably would have quietly sat on the bench for the next 12 months if necessary. Travis is obviously a different case being actively pursued by rival Championship clubs and first name on the teamsheet last season.

The club have had to deploy a hatchet job operation on Travis to paint him as a villain in this sorry saga and, credit where it is due, it has worked with aplomb judging by comments on social media.

All it really took was a win at Hull, a couple of unnecessary and unchallenged comments by Ismael in his post-match press conferences and signing another foreign player who sounds exciting but nobody knows anything about and the job is done. 

Not even a murmur of anger or outrage now about offloading the captain to Derby County less than a week before the window closes. 

It's impressive but shows we've no chance of ever succeeding against this regime when they are able to control the narrative so easily via the Telegraph and media and so many in the support base just swallow it. 

[Emerald Isle Rover]

3 minutes ago, JHRover said:

The difference is the club haven't had to resort to dirty underhand tactics to get rid of Bucko because he wasn't a cornerstone of the team/captain and probably would have quietly sat on the bench for the next 12 months if necessary. Travis is obviously a different case being actively pursued by rival Championship clubs and first name on the teamsheet last season.

The club have had to deploy a hatchet job operation on Travis to paint him as a villain in this sorry saga and, credit where it is due, it has worked with aplomb judging by comments on social media.

All it really took was a win at Hull, a couple of unnecessary and unchallenged comments by Ismael in his post-match press conferences and signing another foreign player who sounds exciting but nobody knows anything about and the job is done. 

Not even a murmur of anger or outrage now about offloading the captain to Derby County less than a week before the window closes. 

It's impressive but shows we've no chance of ever succeeding against this regime when they are able to control the narrative so easily via the Telegraph and media and so many in the support base just swallow it. 

My biggest question is why hasn’t Travis come out with a statement yet? 

[Paul Mani]

19 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

What about Dolan? I know you arent a fan and I think have been massively unfair on him. But in terms of style, surely you agree that his high energy profile suits Ismael down to the ground? And surely you acknowledge that his form improved when Ismael came in.

Totally get why signing these exotic players are exciting and I appreciate that much of your post is satirical. But obviously it goes without saying that it is not a case that many of these players are being "left behind" with Ismael wanting them gone because the boys club vibe is no more and theyve not been able to keep up. Theyve left because we cant get them to stay on the peanuts that are offered. They leave gigantic holes.

Tronstad and Travis very much did stand a chance from a footballing sense, they arent the T1000S that need to move on, its a hell of an assumption that Tavares and Baradji will just wave them on as they come in as superior models to take us forward, again jokes appreciated. One comes from being in and out in a mid table Portugese league team and one was relegated in Switzerland, there is reason for optimism with both but I suspect if we had all 4, then the latter 2 would be the ones providing competition and learning from the T2000s, who actually contrary to the above are very much the real deal.

All fair points. To be clear, I’m not advocating or necessarily in support of the new regime / idea. I’m just intrigued by what’s unfolding.

I wouldn’t put my money on Tavares and Baradji being better than Travis and Sonny either, but I do think they’re probably better suited to what this manager wants.

For clarity, I think they probably planned to clear the deck in stages with VI. First waive out , Bucko, JRC, Pears etc…extend the others (Trav, Dolan, Brittain etc) and add a couple of the foreign lads, then phase the remaining players out. This has been accelerated by those players not extending.

In terms of Dolan, I think they probably tried to extend him, but never offered anything like what he wanted. But I don’t think he had a long term future in this regime either….not enough pace or power. This is aside from my personal opinion as I would’ve gladly just waived him down the road.

The vibe I’m referring to is what changed. It was enough of a change to dislodge JRC and Bucko who have been coasting on nice contracts for years. As I’ve said, lots have been rocked out of their lifeboats and the band of brothers has been disbanded.